Mow with Your Tractor or Buy a Zero Turn?
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2023
- tractor belly mower vs zero turn mower. mid mount mower review
Check out this head-to-head comparison between a flail mower and a belly mower
What is the Best Way to Mow with a Tractor?
• Flail Mower Vs Belly M...
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Check out this head-to-head comparison between a flail mower and a belly mower
What is the Best Way to Mow with a Tractor?
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If it were a pasture/field I'd go with a flail mower...mid mount mower is fine for your lawn but a pasture/field would be better cut with a flail mower, or a brush hog.
Typically with a flail mower or a brush hog you can go faster than you could with a regular mid mount mower.
One of the advantages to me with using my tractor is the cab. I can mow in the air conditioning and not have to worry about my allergies. Yes, it is slow than the zero turn, but when I'm done mowing, I can go about my day without my nose running like a river.
What kind of mower set up (mid mount, 3 pt finish or flail mower) and are your tires loaded or not? Thanks.
Thanks this is the exact video I have been looking for
This is a pretty fair assessment I’d say. I use a Kubota BX because of the muddy spots and hills that I have to mow. The BX doesn’t tear up the yard and gives a pretty good ride. If I had open flat yard to mow I’d have a ZT for sure.
Correct. Right tool for the job
Brock, you have seen my property in person and I’m sure you noticed all of the slopes, trees, and high sand content of my 5 acre yard. I’ve used a Gravely ZT 52HD for 3 years on my rough terrain and it works fine, but it does beat me up. When I ordered my 2038R, I included the 72D MMM in hopes that it would offer a smoother ride and cut down on the time it takes to mow the open areas with the larger deck. I’ve been pleased with my decision and actually enjoy mowing more with my 2038R. It offers a much smoother ride, doesn’t tear up my yard when going around trees like my zero turn does (it’s the high sand content that causes this) and doesn’t slide around on the slopes like my zero turn does. So I think it depends mostly on the variables involved and my situation actually points to the 2038R.
I do have loaded radial R3’s with two sets of wheel weights per side and the Deere 2.5” wheel spacers. It only takes me about 15 minutes at most to drop the loader and backhoe and be ready to mow. I should also add that I maintain two separate properties that are an hour apart. We don’t get out to the 40 acre farm often enough to keep the 5 acre yard in tip top shape. So normally I take the loader with grapple or 4 in 1 bucket, mmm, and MX 5 or my box blade depending on what needs to be done. This allows me to only transport one piece of equipment and take care of everything that needs addressed. The MX 5 is too large to fit in the small fenced in area around the house, so the MMM is always required for that area.
I guess my point is I agree with what your conclusion are in a general sense, but there are situations where a MMM can really shine. I just happen to have a few reasons why having options is really nice even if it doesn’t make sense for everyone.
Spot on! Nice video
Good assessment, I think.
Brock.....I agree with you 100%, I have never owned a belly mounted mower and never will. We have been using a zero turn mower, for over 30 yrs.starting with a Yazoo tail wheel mower designed for golf course greens. We currently mow approximately 4 acres with a 61" Farris mower, and it does a great job...very fast around trees and shrubs and an excellent quality cut. I also have a JD 4720 that I use with a flail mower to mow trails etc. on the farm. In the past I also owned a bush hog, but found after a few years of rough cutting I had no need for it as the quality was no where near the flail. I don't think the quality of any flail mower would please my wife in the yard, as she mows the entire yard and she is VERY particular.
Brock....one other feather of my Ferris Zero Turn. I bought it after I had my third major spine surgery because of the front suspension and proposed quality ride. Although my wife does most of the mowing, I enjoy the comfortable ride it produces when I mow. I have owned many other ZTM mowers in the past that were terrible that I could not use on our bumpy lawn and remain comfortable.
I've been mowing about 4 acres with my JD 1025R tractor using a 60" belly mower deck for 2 seasons, and I am of the opinion that it does a great job & can handle any grass cutting scenario you come across. I have been happy with it, and enjoy using my tractor any time I have the opportunity. It takes me a few hours each time, with several obstacles, but the result is a clean & even cut with great mulching & all the power I need. I went this route initially for all the reasons you pointed out, but essentially cost savings & one machine to maintain.
Now, I'm currently buying a zero turn mower. Going to test drive one today, in fact. The primary reason I'm adding an extra machine and spending the extra money that I initially saved by NOT buying a dedicated mower? Because mowing with the tractor makes me the only mower in my household. This is due to me using my tractor regularly for other work & needing to "transform" the tractor into a mower. My wife & kids just don't want to mess with it - and I don't blame them. I, too, am exhausted from the transformation process that is required both before & after mowing sessions. That is my secondary reason for adding a machine, the need to remove the loader & rear implements and attach the belly mower deck each time in order to mow, then reverse it all afterward so you can use your tractor as a tractor. It makes a few hours mowing turn into a day-drainer, and weekly at that. With a dedicated mower I will have a machine that anyone in my household can jump on, turn the key, & start working. And they'll probably be able to get the job done in significantly less time.
Now, am I selling my belly mower? No. I have a TKV20 MCS that uses the belly deck, and I'll continue using that for Fall leaf cleanup. I mulch my grass, so will not use a bagger with the ZT mower I buy. Yeah, that's an expensive bagging system to keep & use seasonally, but it should be a setup I can use for many years to come.
Any rate, that's my two-cents on the subject, with my personal perspective based on my experiences. BTW... I'm deciding between a Cub Cadet Ultima ZTXS6, or a Bad Boy Maverick HD with 60" decks.
Howdy Brock! I agree that this comparison is situational for sure, but as a general rule I see your point. I mow three acres with my 25hp Mahindra. Compared to the newer 25hp sub compacts out there it is on the smaller size, so that is good for my application. I have used the large commercial Toro zero turns before - on smooth yards or properties the zero turn was awesome! The few times I borrowed it for on my property it beat the hell out of me. I don't have a nice groomed yard like the typical suburban yard lol. So for me, given the condition of my property (hey, it's a farm) my Mahindra is perfect. And to be honest, when I purchased it 9 years ago it was primarily for mowing. Had it not come with the bucket I probably wouldn't have paid extra for it (though I know better now - I love the bucket). I wouldn't want anything bigger for mowing the yard. I can't really afford a sub compact and a zero turn at this point, so there's that as well lol.
Spot on Brock
And yes, I agree with your assessment on the MMM. I used to mow with my MMM and after purchasing a zero turn, I'll never mow with a MMM again. My 3039R is weighted, wheel weights, etc. Now, a 1025R is a different story with a MMM. Great video Brock.
Hi Brock. I agree if you have a flat area to mow a zero turn is the way to go. For me, I have too many slopes and road ditches I mow with my LX 3310HSD with a 60" deck. The dealer let me borrow a 72" Scag zero turn, when my mower was in the shop a few years ago. It was fine on the flat, but wasn't able to mow 30% of what I mow with my tractor. zero turn was not stable enough.
A lot of people don't want to mow with their tractor, they don't want to run the hours up on it...which makes no sense to me, that's no excuse, as they run the hours up doing other work with it that's far more abusive to the tractor than operating a mower deck.
I have a mid-mount mower for my sub-compact tractor, I use it occasionally to mow my lawn but its totally overkill, and it don't save any time compared to mowing with my regular lawn tractor. My lawn tractor has a 42" mower deck, my tractor has a 60" deck...don't really save any time because you spend the same amount of time backing up and turning around with both machines. Regardless which machine I use, it takes me about 45 minutes to an hour to mow my property. I do prefer the tractor when I mow the pasture area as its a little wider than my lawn tractor so I can mow the irrigation ditch out front more easily.
Nice comparison, Brock.
Thank you, Chad
I have 3.5 acres. For the sod around my house, I use a walk behind mower. The rest of the prairie grass is mowed with my 20 HP Sears lawn tractor. I bought my 1025R a year and a half ago with a mid-mount mower. I've never used the mid-mount mower. It sits in my shop as pretty as the day it was delivered. If my 16 year old Sears ever dies, I'll probably get a zero turn. Thanks Brock!
I have a 1023e and a 3pt 4ft finish mower. I like it,but I enjoy mowing. I like the rear finish mower, it keeps the bulk of the clippings off of me and the tractor.
I have Kubota bx 2370 with a mower deck I don't have the tires loaded or any kind of weights on it because I have soft places in my yard I like mowing with my tractor and using it for other stuff like tilling the gardens, and bush hogging! I had a regular mower and it took longer to mow with because of the smaller deck and less horsepower! I have 8 acres I keep up with and I just like the 60inch deck with the extra power!!
Great video. Initially, I bought a 2038R with the 60’ MMM. I did not want additional equipment (ZT) to maintain. I used the MMM for 1 season and the tractor was too heavy and hard to turn around my property. So, a couple of years ago I bought a Z930M and I love it. My MMM has been on the corner of my shed for the last 2 years and I am not planning to use it any time soon. Lesson learned, skip the MMM and get a Zero Turn.
Same thing I did.
It’s OK to have it as a back up if your zero turn breaks down but that’s too expensive for a back up plan
I mow 11 acres with my JD 2032R with a 72” deck. And I love it! I’m sure a zero turn would be faster but I’m not in a race when I mow. I believe you’re mistake was mowing with the loader on and having something in the three point. As you know those items could have came off for a true comparison. And taking off and on don’t take that long. I never take my mower deck off. I do all loader work with the deck on.
A 1025R with turf tires and a slightly used finish mower for $1200 is great for my 2 acres of lawn. I have a used $400 bush hog for 3 acres of fields. Might not be the fastest, but i like my seat time for tractor therapy. 😊
I completely agree. I have a 2009 Ferris 48 inch zero turn for mowing. It does great. When I bought my subcompact tractor they tried to sell me a mid mount mower. No thanks. It is too heavy and too slow. My wife has a 1996 John Deere 425 all wheel steer garden tractor with a 48 inch deck and it is a great mower. She hates my zero turn. Her mower is slower but she likes it so I like it since that means she mows!
You have described my situation to a "T" I have about 1.7 acres in a sub with a creek on one side. Most of the land is on a slope. I purchased a 1025R w/60" deck to cut most of the lawn, but found the trimming and a lot of the slope to be too difficult. I then purchased a Z530M w/48" deck which I current use for most of the mowing. The rest of it I do with an 80v electric mower self propelled. I find the tractor mower deck unsuitable for my yard due to the slopes and amount of trimming. I wish I had spent the deck$ on something else!
I have the same setup as you do. 2038R and deck. My deck is only 60" though. I agree that it is just not practical to mow most yards with this setup. It mows well, but it is too clunky and heavy when compared to a zero turn. I guess if you had a 10-acre yard that you wanted to maintain, the tractor would make sense. I also have a zero turn which I love even though it is getting old. But I do like having the tractor as a backup.
I have a kubota z421 mower and it's been a great mower have rite at 250 hrs on it. I have a kubota L3130 tractor and I just seen recently that model could have a mid mount mower. I think it would have plenty of power to run 72in cut and maybe a smooth ride. My yard is far from perfect. But would be a heavy mowing rig.
Brock is ….. “RIGHT”!!! 👍👍🔥🔥
I think technique plays a big part in time spent. I see allot of people with zt's that make all kinds of wasted movements because of it's maneuverability. The same can be said for the tractor. I have a 1025r w/60D deck and mows better than the commercial zt that mows the lot down the street. He leaves a mess every time he mows that lot. I've cut weeds up to 3' high and it doesn't even slow down. The discharge is nice and even so no mess. I don't have any open space, so haven't tried mowing in high range.
I use a 3 point finish mower on 2 acres of grass.
I’ve used my father in laws zt also.
K
Tractor, finish mower plus weed eater time. 2 1/2 hours
ZT takes 2 hours.
For the price of a zt I’ll keep using my tractor
I have a 3pt 6' finish mower I pull behind my tractor with a cab. I mow 7 acres all flat. 2 acres the house sits on and a 5 acre lot next to the house. Wish I had purchased a zero turn instead of the 3pt finish mower. Currently, I outline most things with my John Deere D130. then switch to the tractor & finish mower. not a huge deal but it would certainly be faster w/a zero turn and not having to switch, especially around the house. Hate how long it takes to connect pto and the fact I'm usually going to get greasy hooking it up. About the only things I like about having a tractor with a cab and finish mower is it's better on the allergies, better for tall grass and I don't need hearing protection inside the cab, plus it's kind of cool playing farmer even if it is mowing.
For years I mowed with a New Holland TC29 tractor with a 72" belly mower. A couple years ago I added a Cub Cudet Z560 (60" deck) zero turn. The difference I see is that the tractor rides smoother over my rough lawn (larger wheels) and uses less fuel. The zero turn is more moveable , is lighter and easer on the grass. The time is about the same as the tractor has a larger deck and I can not go at max speed with the ZTR as it is to bumpy.
I have a 60" belly mower on my TC29. I absolutely love mowing with it. I agree that in a perfect world the zero turn is quicker but the ride is not nearly as smooth so by the time you slow down to tolerate the bumpy ride you might as well just use the tractor. Also, my yard is very hilly and the zero turn wants to slide down the slopes or looses traction where the tractor is no problem in 4wd.
I would say the tractor is better. My jd 1025 gets used year round. Ive collected many implements over the years. I can accomplish a lot more projects. Zero turn is nice for cutting grass only and sits threw winter
I agree 👍🏻
I started off with a bx with a mower deck traded it off got an l3901 and a deere zero turn and never looked back best thing I ever did way faster mowing literally twice as fast
Two things I'm very happy I didn't buy with my tractor: mower and a backhoe. The mower isn't an option on a L4701, so not like I was going to buy a mower and regret it. Tractor backhoes are too limited, IMHO. Maybe better than digging with a shovel, but not much, given that your spoils pile is too close to the work area.
I have a 2025R with a 60" belly mower and a JD zero turn. Zero turn is my go to mower. If I have somebody help me mow then I'll run both at the same time. If it's just me then I always use the zero turn. I do like having the backup of the belly mower if my zero turn has a mechanical issue, which is very rare.
My opinion is 5 acres or less? get a zero turn to mow even if you have a tractor. Unless you need a nice air conditioned cab. Then just use your tractor. A zero turn is faster and less compaction on your yard. And cheaper per hour to run. But get a good one with big tires and a good seat. And if you have a really big yard you can get lawn mowers with cabs and fold down wings just like the big pull type and you can mow about 15' each pass. However them mowers starting at $35,000 or more new you might consider just pulling a large 12-15' wide finish mower with your existing tractor.
I've got a 60" deck on the 1025R and a Hustler fastrak SDX60.
Tractor deck was $1500. ZTR was $8000.
Tractor rides better but its weak and slow. (Bigger tires + Low gear)
ZTR is fast but it will leave you feeling beat up and sore.
Cut quality for both is equal.
I only bought tractor mower for leaf collection system and backup mowing. I owned the ZTR first. Deck was cheap enough to not care too much about it.
My toro time cutter with my ride suspension is way more comfortable than my John Deere 2025R
I would also add using your tractor would be much more fuel efficient. My 455 22hp diesel sips fuel and I could mow 3 or 4x easily 4 acres vs my Super-Z 35hp sucks 3gals of Gasoline per mow of same area. I'm never able to mow 2x on the same 5.5 gal fuel tank.
I cut about 10 acres of pasture. Very steep hills close to road. Cannot safely cut hills with my tractor so I have use both brush hog and zero turn to keep things cut. Tractor is faster as it has a 72" cut and it is more comfortable. Zero turn keeps me safe on steep hills.
For fifteen years I used my tractor to cut grass with a three point finish mower four an a half hours plus weed eater. Got a great ZTR bad boy one an half hours to cut ....
That sounds like it makes an easy decision. The mowers aren’t cheap, but three hours a week is a lot of time.
@@RockhillfarmYT I I got mine used ,priced a new one 11,000.00 for the same one new
I did notice that every time you put the mower deck on the tractor you seemed to do it begrudgingly. Like, well I payed for this and I have it, so I might as well use it kind of thing. But you never know, it could turn into an asset one day!
I used it again today because my mower had a flat tire. Overall, I’m not a fan but it’s here so might as well.
I enjoyed mowing with my 2038R and the 72d auto connect deck. But when the 2nd actuator went bad it is a $5000 boat anchor cause you can't give them away
Before the brainiacs chime in,the deck was never on my tractor except when mowing my grass. Never used in a field ,cleaned and put inside when not in use. It's not coincidental that so many users have had this problem,it is a poor product the part number has changed 3 or so times so deere is aware and grasping at straws
I Agree Brock...I too regret my midmount....I would LOVE to sell it , have you tested the market for selling yours ?
pc
Seems like resale value is really low because do use it properly. The tractor needs to be wired for it and most aren’t.
They only install the actuator and controls if you are buying the deck. People are asking 1500 for barely used decks.
The only tractor that could compete with a zero turn would be a Ventrac and it two competitors. Plus, the Ventrac is literally the king of hills.
It's biggest draw back is its limitations of loader capacity even with its new and improved FEL, it still isn't as competitive with most compact tractors.
who uses a mmm with the loader/ bucket/grapple and rear attachment hanging on it? and bouncing like crazy the whole time?
theres no doubt that a zero turn is a great mower....... and thats all it is
What was the difference in the fuel use?
I know with my lawn tractor I can mow my 1 acre property 3 times, but with my sub-compact tractor and mid mount mower I can mow the property 3 times plus other chores throughout the week and still have about 1/2 a tank of fuel left....the lawn tractor isn't too bad on fuel for what it is compared to my previous lawn tractor that was extremely thirsty and would do the same yard twice on a tank of fuel, and it had a larger fuel tank LOL.
It takes the same amount of time to mow with my lawn tractor as it does with my tractor, so there isn't any savings there....the extra time is spent getting the mower deck, dropping the rear implement (a few seconds as I have a quick hitch), dumping the loader bucket, putting the pallet forks on, getting the mower deck off the shelf, bringing mower deck to carport, taking off the pallet forks, putting the bucket back on, dropping the loader off, then bringing the tractor over to the carport and putting on the deck which takes maybe 5 minutes, but you spend 10-15 minutes swapping out implements/loader, etc. in the process....so I rarely use the tractor to mow with, unless I'm putting the mower deck on to mow for someone else as well. With a lawn tractor, zero turn, etc. they mow lawns, that is what their sole purpose is, so you jump on and go mow your yard. Unless you leave the mower deck on the tractor its not really worth the effort to swap back and forth.
Is that cost just because its john deere or is that pretty similar across the board?
That is a good question that I don’t have the answer to
If I was guessing, they are all expensive, but deer is more.
Part of it is the cost to add the controls to the tractor.
My 60" mid mount non-drive over deck for my Kubota BX2680 was $2500. I think the drive over version is around $4,000 because of all the extra linkage/PTO crap that has to be added. That drive over deck stuff leaves a lot to be desired, on the Kubota you lose ground clearance, which is already not that great. The mower deck would have been about $550 cheaper if I would have ordered it with my tractor, but dealer couldn't seem to get them in stock so I went to another dealer and had to pay outright full price. Inflation and steel prices have gone up too.
Why is there a bungee cord holding the hood?
I was wondering the same thing.
It was strapped for trailering
I haul the tractor facing forward, so I strap the hood down.
Sometimes I just leave it on there.
ventrac vs the others
Ventrac is the king of Mowing, but it doesn’t fully replace a Tractor like mine. It’s too expensive for a lot of people to have as just a Mower.
Waste of money, over-grown lawn tractor...you pay the kind of money Ventrac wants for that thing, and all you get is a belt driven lawn mower PTO system for attachments, pretty pathetic...if you need one of those to mow your lawn you need to change your landscaping and just buy a regular lawn tractor or zero turn and get rid of the extreme hills that made you think you needed a $30K lawn mower.
My zero turn would kill me bouncing like your tractor was
I mow my 2 acre yard with a JD 1023E. While I know a zero turn is faster on flat ground, I have a highway ditch across the front of my property. The highway is probably 8-10' higher in elevation than my yard. The ditch is so steep, no zero turn or 2wd sit on mower can traverse the incline up and down or side to side. With my tractor, I can mow it in low range and in 4wd. It works great going up and down the hill. If I didn't have this aspect of my property, I would own a zero turn, but the ability for my tractor to conquer this difficult terrain and keep me from running a weedeater is worth the tradeoff. Tractor mower wins for me in my situation. Also, I can go from tractor with loader and boxblade on, like you show in the video, to a naked tractor with just a mower deck on in less than 10 minutes. Getting rid of the weight and size of the front and rear attachments makes the ride much better and makes the tractor much more useful, mowing the yard around obstacles.
I'm not sure who gave you 7k for a 60" deck. I can tell you, my buddy just bought a 2038R two weeks ago, and his 60" deck cost him $5090.
Since buying my 3039R, I no longer have a MMM, but rather a zero turn and love it.
I thought mine was 4500. They said a 72” but that shouldn’t make that much difference.
@@RockhillfarmYT I agree. After thinking about it, maybe the 7k was from Canada. When you made that post asking for a price, I picked up the phone and called my buddy because I knew he just bought one two weeks ago. Like you, I'll never buy a MMM again after using a zero turn.
@@rodshepard3967 Might have been part of a package deal....I know the 60" mower deck for my tractor was $2500, about $550 more expensive than it would have been if I would have purchased it with the tractor, plus the cost of inflation and steel has gone up too.
@wildbill23c that could be. However, even if you bought the MMM after the fact, I don't think it's going to be 7k.
@@rodshepard3967 If tractor dealers are doing what car dealers are and price gouging, and adding mark-ups, I guess you might spend $7k on a mower deck LOL. However, maybe $4-5k for a 72" drive over deck might sound about right, maybe? IDK, never looked at a deck that size, and don't care for the drive over crap.